Snow Guards

Our company offers two types of snow retention systems; individual pad style snow guards made from polycarbonate or stainless steel and bar type systems manufactured from galvanized, stainless steel or aluminum. Contrary to popular belief, the height, width and shape of a guard or rail system does indeed affect its performance! Every one of our single pad style snow guards have a flat, “forward mounted” face that measures at least 3 inches across and stands no less than 2.5 inches high. Our screw holes run horizontal, in line with the purlins, not vertical, like some foreign made snow guards. Our snow guards are usually installed in the lowest portion of the roofing panel where the snow and ice actually moves, not on a high seam above the problem area.

Depending on the type of roof system and the owner’s preference, the polycarbonate pad style guards may be adhesive or screw mounted. On standing seam roofs, adhesive mounting offers a huge advantage over mechanically fastening because this method does not restrict the natural thermal expansion and contraction process of floating metal roof panels and in the event of severe snow drifting conditions, it provides a release feature that eliminates the possibility of panel damage.

We do not offer seam mounted snow guards, because mounting a snow guard on a seam, above the panel flat, usually renders the snow retention system useless once the snow and ice melts lower than the guard. This may allow as much as several inches of packed snow and ice to slide off the roof. In addition, when an inadequate number of seam mounted guards are used, they will twist the seam of the panel, causing expensive panel damage and possible roof leaks.

Our high end standing seam snow bar snow guard systems are unique in that the aluminum or steel bar systems can be painted to match the panel. The SnoBar snow rail system is attached by crimping to the seams and has either a flat face or square tube with an ice stopper at least 3 inches wide and is mounted “perpendicular” to the panel flat. The shape of the bar and installing the correct type of ice stopping device is the key to keeping the snow and ice from going under and up over the rails.